So last Wednesday night began my 7 day adventure...in SPANISH...that is right, no english was heard during these 7 glorious days of serving Him!
Wednesday I spent the day getting things ready for the week away from Cartagena and the week in Turbo! Lots of errands to be run, bags to be packed, apt to be cleaned, last minute things for my favorite procrastinator, Darlys...and this begins my 7 day stent in spanish!
I forgot to tell you that I had not been feeling well all weekend, suffering from lack of energy, headaches, migraines, and just not feeling like myself. So I go to the MD on Tuesday, and he tells me that I have low iron, blood sugar, white blood cell count, and looks like another amoeba! What will he do about it, well nothing until I get back from my trip. Why, you ask? Because I was about to get in a car for 14 hours and the last thing I need is to be on a medication that keeps you in the bathroom.
So, I got on my knees and made a few calls for pryr, and gave this health issue to the Father! There was no way I could talk, let alone lead studies in spanish with the intense headaches I had been experiencing!
Back to the glorious 14 hours in a truck with little to no padding, on a road with little to no space that was not covered in holes. And thus begins the adventure...
I thank HIM everyday for my ipod, podcasts, and music in English which was used quite frequently when I just needed a little Kendall time! We arrive to this little city, unload our things, and get a foam mattress and go to sleep.
Friday, we had a morning free to pry, prepare and to explore the city. That afternoon we taught on how to use stories from The Word to speak His Truths. It was so beautiful to see how He used these concepts to give them confidence to share what HE is doing and what His Word says!
Wednesday I spent the day getting things ready for the week away from Cartagena and the week in Turbo! Lots of errands to be run, bags to be packed, apt to be cleaned, last minute things for my favorite procrastinator, Darlys...and this begins my 7 day stent in spanish!
I forgot to tell you that I had not been feeling well all weekend, suffering from lack of energy, headaches, migraines, and just not feeling like myself. So I go to the MD on Tuesday, and he tells me that I have low iron, blood sugar, white blood cell count, and looks like another amoeba! What will he do about it, well nothing until I get back from my trip. Why, you ask? Because I was about to get in a car for 14 hours and the last thing I need is to be on a medication that keeps you in the bathroom.
So, I got on my knees and made a few calls for pryr, and gave this health issue to the Father! There was no way I could talk, let alone lead studies in spanish with the intense headaches I had been experiencing!
Back to the glorious 14 hours in a truck with little to no padding, on a road with little to no space that was not covered in holes. And thus begins the adventure...
I thank HIM everyday for my ipod, podcasts, and music in English which was used quite frequently when I just needed a little Kendall time! We arrive to this little city, unload our things, and get a foam mattress and go to sleep.
Friday, we had a morning free to pry, prepare and to explore the city. That afternoon we taught on how to use stories from The Word to speak His Truths. It was so beautiful to see how He used these concepts to give them confidence to share what HE is doing and what His Word says!
Saturday, Darlys and I taught about 40 women about inner beauty. We focused on the stories of Esther and Delilah and I truly wish I had made a video of this group of women acting out the story of Samson and Delilah! It was probably one of the funniest things I have seen as I watch a woman pretending to be BIG strong Samson and then a 74 year old women working her stuff as Delilah! It was incredible to watch the Spirit open up parts of these women that they had not expressed or not even knew existed within themselves. And to accept the fact that it was okay to think that they are beautiful and to use their beauty for His glory! What an incredible morning!!
That afternoon, Darlys and I taught the local youth how to use sports to reach their communities. These youth were in awe of us as M's, until I shared with them that if they too had accepted Him then they were M's as well. It was interesting to watch the Spirit translate to them and to help them realize that when J told us to go and make disciples, HE was really talking to them! And after they grasped this concept and their task of taking The Word to their community, they were so hungry for whatever tool we could give them to help start a ministry in their city.
From Saturday afternoon until Monday morning, Darlys and I did nothing but spend time with these youth...just loving on them,listening to them, encouraging them, and trying to be what HE needed us to be in their lives. Was it tiring? Um...yes...did you forget that this was all in spanish and not spanish like I am use to! Just like in America, everyone has their own accents and sayings and ways of communicating! Well these "paisas" talk completely different from anything I have ever heard and I loved their accents! But talk about difficult and draining, I had to concentrate so hard to understand them!! But the Spirit translated for me and for them as well!! Imagine a gringo who speaks costanol!!
With the group, we had an opportunity to model the sports ministry two days in a row. And this Sunday at 3:00, they are going to try to continue to the work with the 70 kids we found in a barrio about 100m from their club! I am so excited to see how HE is going to use these youth and this strategy to grow His Kingdom!
The area we were in was not safe at all and we had to constantly have someone with us wherever we wanted to go that was from the city. They have to ask permission from the head of the different political groups for us to even come into their city! Brian, Orlando and Pedro went to another city, about 2 hours away, on Sunday to do some more teaching. It was definitely a Dad thing for them to get to go there as the leader of the largest political group in this area lives in this city, near the club where they would be teaching. But HE is faithful and protected all of us during this time! It is beautiful to see that even though these people live under a high stress environment, that the gospel is flourishing and people are accepting right and left! HE IS SO AMAZING!!
So we get back in the truck for another 14 hours on Monday and get back to Cartagena at 10:00pm. When I get back, I am greeted by my dog and Jorge (who had stayed at the house to take care of Gomer.) And we talked about the work and he told me about the work that went on here in Cartagena.
After a little bit, he informed me of my dog's behavior...I was to say the least furious with her! Her new habit seems to be eating shoes, curtains, and not her bones/toys. She destroyed my curtains, a brand new pair of Jorge's shoes, and a pair of my shoes. Why you ask, we have no idea! He said his shoes had been sitting out the entire week but that on Monday she just went crazy! (Oh and Chiago, my fat fish, also died on Monday...Jorge thought I would be upset and bought another fish, this one even fatter!!) So Jorge had gotten on to her, she knew it was not good, and we thought that was it.
Tuesday, I get up and go for a long run with Gomer (I mean 14 hours in a car can make the laziest of fools want to run!!). We get back and I head out to Arjona for a long day of work. Work was great! I was exhausted but it was a really great day of work! One of the new clubs we started had some bad news for me, as S's oldest daughter was molested by an older boy across the street for 100 pesos and another 100 pesos to be quiet. 100 pesos...to rob that young girl of her innocence. 100 pesos...about 2 cents! My heart broke, my stomach turned, and we all began to pry! Please join me in pryng for Sdr and her daughter Dnll! Other than this, Tuesday was great...lots of huge things are happening in Arjona! Thanks for pryng!!
I get back from work, Gomer greets me at the door, and we leave to walk yet again. On my way back to my bedroom, I see not one but both pairs of my new black flip flops on the floor in the hall. As I get closer, yep...eaten...and then I notice on the bed in one of the bedrooms another pair of black shoes (Jorge's new flops you sent him), but only one has been eaten! So here I am exhausted from a trip, long day of work, and come home to this...needless to say she was beaten and corrected and if it had not been for the Spirit, she would have been back on the streets that night!
Now that I am back to my right mind (I've slept) and have asked a girl who comes to walk her each week to look for Gomer a new home. I feel like maybe she needs a farm to run on or something as she is not doing so well this week! I just don't understand why she would not have done all this destruction during her first month of "captivity" here in the apt.
So last night after team meeting, I spent some time with Ruth and Bobby just talking and studying spanish. I inform them of my decision and Ruth reminds me that in the Word, every time that Gomer leaves/sins Hosea takes her back. What? I do not need to hear this Ruth!! :) She gently just smiles and says, you are the one who gave her that name, I am just saying! So at this point...who knows what Gomer's fate will be. If someone would like to have her and has lots of land for her to run around on, then I believe will be best for her and for my shoes!
Well, that was my week...hope you enjoyed it! It was an amazing week of service and seeing Him at work first hand! I am still tired, still have headaches, but am excited to see what HE has in store for us this weekend! A volunteer team comes in today, have a youth meeting tonight, and full weekend of work in the barrios! Pry that HE will heal my body, give me the rest I need, open the hearts of the people here in Cartagena for what the volunteer team will do, give me the ability to translate and be an instrument of service, that HE will unite these youth leaders tonight, and that we will be ready for what HE has in s
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